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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
In Self-Publishing: The Ins & Outs of Going Indie, Judy Penz Sheluk provides a comprehensive overview of the self-publishing landscape, discussing its exponential growth and accompanying challenges, including low sales and modest earnings for authors. She emphasizes the necessity for professional presentation, thorough editing, and feedback, likening self-publishing to running a small business. Sheluk guides authors through essential steps such as manuscript preparation, formatting, cover design, and pricing considerations for both digital and print formats. Detailed instructions are provided for utilizing platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing, Draft2Digital, and IngramSpark, with an eye toward global distribution opportunities and promotional strategies. While she uses her personal journey as her lodestar, Sheluk shares insights on overcoming challenges, accessing grants and programs for authors, and engaging with the writing community for enhanced visibility and promotion of their work.
I don't think it is a coincidence that Judy Penz Sheluk makes a point of educating indie authors on the importance of access to resources and support, like workshops, forums, and webinars, and then provides as much as any one person can to offer some of that very support. Self-Publishing: The Ins & Outs of Going Indie is well-written, easy to understand, and accessible due to her comfortable, conversational writing style. It feels like chatting with an experienced and professional friend. I am not an author but have been an editorial literary critic for nearly a decade, and, hand over heart, the standout to me is when she stresses the importance of hiring professional editors for manuscript refinement and their respective roles in enhancing the manuscript's readability and adherence to publishing standards. Sheluk's insight is on the mark, and her competence in the intricacies of how the commercial literary world operates right now cannot be understated. I have no doubt this book will prove useful to all who pick it up. Very highly recommended.
